Regulating apparatus for generators.



l. W. JEPSON.

REGULATING APPARATUS FOR GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. [91L 1 ,23 6, 1 79 Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

nmmmm vue utoz J. W. JEPSON.

REGULATING APPARATUS FOR GENERATORS. arrucmou FILED n19. lsu.

1,236, 1 79. Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2 0i tn-caoeo W au-uwldio'a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. J'EPSON, OF DEPEW, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BEGULATING APPARATUS FOR GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Original application filed October 14, 1910, Serial No. 587,003. Dividedand this application filed January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. Jnrson, a. citizen of the United States, anda resident. of Depew, county of Erie, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating Apparatus forGenerators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical regulating apparatusbut in the form illustrated is especially designed for electricalsystems of distribution, for the electric lighting of railway cars, inwhich a storage battery and work circuit are supplied by a maingenerator driven at a variable speed and in which automatic means areprovided for regulating the action of the generator in accordance withthe needs of the system.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved form of apparatuswhereby the generator may be regulated in accordance with the-needs ofthe battery so that a substantial charging current may be maintainedtherefor and yet when the battery becomes sufiiciently charged thecharging current may be cut down as desired. It is one purpose of myinvention to carry out these i'eatures with a minimum amount ofapparatus which is extremely simple and efficient in its operation andconstruction, and which takes up a minimum amount of space. In apreferred embodiment of my invention I provide a system having tworegulating coils, one to maintain a substantial charging current and theother to limit the rise in voltage of the generator, said coilsoperating mechanically independently of one another and so arranged thatone coil becomes substantially inoperative while the other is operating,and while the first is operating, the second has substantially no effecton the regulation.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear fromthe detailed description given below, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 587,003,filed October 14, 1910, for electrical systems of distribu tion.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, partly diagrammatical,

Serial No. 601,589.

showing a system embodying one form of my invention, as applied to a carlighting system, in which the main generator is driven at a variablespeed by the movement of the car;

Fig. 2 is an end view of parts of the generator regulating apparatusshown'in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 1s a section taken on the line III--III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken at one end of the generator regulatingrheostat, and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line VV of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a main generator supplying the mains2-2 to supply the work circuit or lamps 3. Connected across the mains2-2 in a circuit a is a storage battery 5. In the negative main 2 IS aswitch 6 arranged to close the main circuit when the voltage of thegenerator has reached its proper value. For this purpose the switch 6 isarranged to be raised by the electromagnetic coil 7 connected across theterminals of the generator 1. generator reaches this predeterminedvoltage, the switch 6 closes the circuit through the negative main 2. Acoil 10 in the negative main 2 is also arranged to act to increase theeffect of coil 7 when the generator is furnishing current but acts toopen the switch 6 upon the voltage of the gem erator decreasing belowthat of the battery in a well known manner.

The generator 1. is provided with a shunt field 11, connected across itsterminals. In series with the field 11 is a carbon pile 12 forming asuitable rheostat for the regula tion of the main generator. The carbonpile 12 is supported upon a base 9 by means of brackets 13 carryingsupporting porcelain rods 1 1 held by metallic rods 15 secured in thebrackets 18, so that the pile 12 is movable as a whole relative to theframework.

Secured to the base 9 at the right-hand end of the carbon pile 12 is abracket 16 having a lever 17 pivotally mounted thereon. The lever 17 isprovided with a short arm 18 extending upwardly and pivotally connectedto a member 19 by a pin 20. (See also Fig. 4.) The member 19 is securedto a fiat circular member 21 by means of screws 22, but the member 19 isinsulated from the member 21by means of insulating material 23. On theinside of the member 21 is a plate 24 When the I which is designed toabut against the righthand end of the pile of carbon blocks 12-. Thelong arm 25 of the lever 17 extends below the pile 12 and substantiallyparallel therewith and beyond the other end of the carbon pile 12 whereit is forked and pivoted to the links 26 at 27. The links 26 are pivotedto an upright member 28 at 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The member 28is rigidly connected to a suitable core of the solenoid 30 and to keepthe core and member 28 in proper alinement suitable guide rollers 31 areprovided. Below the solenoid 30 is a suitable dash pot 32 of any wellknown construction. The solenoid 30 has its windings connected directlyacross the generator 1 to be responsive to voltage variations thereofand to voltage variations of the battery, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The pivotal arrangement of the lever 17 in the bracket 16 is clearlyshown in detail in Fig. 5. Secured to the bracket 16 is a bolt 33forming a pivot pin for the lever 17. The bolt 33 is secured to thebracket 16 by means of nuts 34 and 35. The lever 17 is provided with asuitable aperture 36 through which the bolt 33' passes and between thebolt 33 and the lever 17 there are provided bearing members 37 and 38.On the other end of the bolt 33 there is a nut or bearing member 39secured. by means of a nut 40. The nuts 34 and 39 are beveled on theinside, as is clearly shown, and there are placed between the beveledfaces of these nuts and thebearing members 37 and 38, balls 41 so as toprovide suitable ball bearings for the lever 17. A cap 42 is placed overthe inside end of the pivotal arrangement and bolt 33 to prevent dustfrom entering the device.

In a similar manner I provide a lever 43 v pivoted in a bracket 44secured to the plate 9 adjacent the left-hand end of the carbon pile 12..The short 'arm 45 of the lever 43 extends upwardly and is pivotallyconnected at 46 to a member similar to .the member 19, which member hassecured to it a member similar to the member 21 by means of screws.These parts operate on the lefthand end of the pile in substantially thesame manner as the parts 19, 21, 23 and 24 operate on the right-hand endof the pile. The long arm 48 of the lever 43 extends below the carbonpile 12 and substantially parallel thereto as well as to the long arm 25of lever 17. The long arm 48 extends beyond the right-hand end of thecarbon pile 12 within the bracket 16, and is pivotally connected tolinks 49 at 50. f The links 49 are pivotally connected to an uprightmember 51 at 52. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The upright member 51 has securedto it a suitable core operating within a solenoid 53. Below the solenoid53 is a suitable dash pot 54, or

any well known construction.

In order to keep the core and member 52 in proper alinement suitablerollers 55 are provided on top of the solenoid 53. The windings of thesolenoid 53 are connected in series with the battery, as clearly shownin Fig. 1.

The conductors leading from the carbon pile 12 to the field 11 andpositive main 2 are connected to the binding posts 56 and to the carbonpile 12 by means of binding posts 57 The pivotal arrangement of thelever 43 in the bracket 44 is substantially the same as the pivotalarrangement of the lever 17 in the bracket 16, which is clearly shown inFig. 5.

Between the battery 5 and the work circuit 3 I provide a second carbonpile 58 in series in the main 2 which acts as a regulator for the lampsor translating devices 3. The carbon pile 58 is controlled by a lever 59of any well known form, which lever is operated by means of a solenoid60 having its windings connected directly across the work circuit, asclearly shown in Fig. 1. The solenoid 60 controls the carbon pile 58 soas to keep the voltage at the translating devices substantially constantirrespective of voltage variations across the battery and generator.

Connected to the top of the core operating the switch 6 is a secondswitch 61 arranged to close a shunt circuit 62 around the windings 53.That is, when the switch 61 is closed the windings 53 areshort-circuited and thus rendered ineffective when the battery isdischarging.

In operation the battery is arranged to feed the work circuit 3 when thegenerator is not running or when its voltage is too low for practicaloperation thereunder. Under these conditions the switch 61 closes thecircuit 62, thereby more directly connecting the battery to the workcircuit or lamps 3, although the carbon pile resistance 58 is includedin circuit in order that the voltage at the lamps may be maintainedsubstantially constant irrespective of changes of the battery voltage.

If, now, the speed of the generator be increased so that it will producea voltage sufficient to feed the lamps, the coil 7 closes the switch 6and opens the switch 61. This connects the generator with the batteryand work circuit and also throws the windings of coil 53 in series withthe battery. \Vhen the voltage of the generator rises suflicient toproduce a proper charging current for the battery 5 the charging currentis maintained substantially constant by means of the coil 53. That is,when such a charging current is produced the strength of the coil 53 issuch that it exerts a pull upon the lever 43 and supports the lever andcore. However, if the voltage of the generator tends to increase,thereby tending to increase the charging current, the coil 53 wouldraise the long arm 48, thereby relieving the pressure on the left-handend of the pile 12 and increasing the resistance in series with thefield 11, so that the voltage of the generator will be accordinglydecreased suflicient to maintain the charging current substantiallyconstant. If a decrease in generator voltage ocours a reverse actiontakes place to increase the pressure upon the carbon blocks 12, thusincreasing the voltage of the dynamo 1 so that the charging current maybe brought back substantially to the same value.

The operation thus described continues until the battery becomesproperly charged. When it has become sufficiently charged, as indicatedby its rise in voltage to a predetermined point and the correspondingrise of the generator voltage, the electro-magnet or solenoid30 becomessufficiently energized to support its core. If the battery voltage risesany higher, the core of the solenoid 30 is raised, thereby increasingthe resistance of the carbon pile l2 and decreasing the generatorvoltage. This cuts down the charging current, as will be clearlyunderstood, and prevents any further rise in the generator voltage. Thusthe coil or solenoid 30 is not brought into action until the battery hasbecome properly charged and it then acts to prevent any further increasein generator voltage and to drop off the battery current. It thereforeusurps the functions of the coil 53 and the long arm 48 of lever 43readily drops-back to its initial position, due to the cutting down ofthe charging current.

That is, when the battery is receiving its substantially constantcharging current, the voltage coil 30 and its core remain substantiallyinoperative or do not affect the regulation, and when the voltage coil30 be comes active upon the rheostat the current coil 53 and its corebecome substantially inoperative or ineffective upon the regulation. Itis also noted that the electro-magnets or solenoids 30 and 53, operatingupon the carbon pile 12, operate mechanically independently of oneanother. This is because while either coil is regulating by varying theposition of its core, the other core is inactive because its coil hasnot sufficient power to lift it. In the position shown in the drawingsthe main switch is open so that there is not sufficient voltage orcurrent to lift either core. The pile is therefore under compression andmay thereby hold both cores floating, as shown. When, however, thegenerator is connected and sufficient power is developed in either coilto lift its core and relieve the compression, the other core can notfloat but falls back until it is mechanically supported, which, in thespecific embodiment shown, is effected by engagement of the lever 17 or43 with one of the guide rollers 31 or 55. If while current coil 53 isregulating and, therefore, its core is floating and lever 17 of thevoltage core is resting on the guide roller, the voltage finally risesto a point that will lift the volta e core, then the current will beginto ecrease and the current lever 43 will gradually fall back against aguide roller, leaving the voltage core to float and control theregulation. Durin the brief transition while both cores are oating, thecarbon pile as a whole will shift its position.

It will be clear from the above that the main generator is operatedupon, or controlled separately by two independently working solenoids orelectro-magnets. This is important since it provides means whereby thegenerator may be regulated for a constant charging current or constantcurrent output irrespective of voltage changes of the battery. And yetwhen the battery has become properly charged the voltage coil 30 isbrought into operation to decrease or eliminate the battery chargingcurrent. If both the voltage and current coils were operating upon thesame core or armature or mechanically connected this advantage could notbe had, since the variations in the voltage coil due to increases in thevoltage of the battery all the time the same is being charged, would beaffected by the battery charging current. This would produce a chargingcurrent which tapered from the beginning, while in my system thecharging current is maintained substantially con stant until the batteryhas become fully charged when the charging current is rapidly droppedoff as desired.

Although preferable, it is not necessary to the broadest aspects of myimprovements, that the coils 30 and 53 act directly upon the rheostat,since their functions may be accomplished indirectly to a certain extentby other means.

From the above it will be clear that I have provided an exceptionallysimple and efficient arrangement for bringing about the desirable endsabove mentioned. By using a single carbon pile for the solenoids 30 and53, the amount of resistance in series with the field 11 is verymaterially decreased, thus cutting down the loss of enorgy in theregulating apparatus, and making the same generally more effective.M5reover, the cost of construction is materially reduced, as is also thespace occupied by the apparatus. By providing a lever operating upon oneend of the pile and a lever operating upon the other end of the pile,these advantages are obtained. For these reasons. not only is the deviceextremely simple, but in view of these facts and by having the long arms25 and 48 extend below the carbon pile 12 and substantially parallelthereto and substantially parallel to one another and extending slightlybeyond the ends of the carbon pile 12, great economy in space isobtained as well as simplicity of operation. Furthermore, thearrangement is attractive as well as convenient, and by the featuresspecified suitable space is provided between the solenoils 30 and 53 forthe automatic switches 6 and 61.

Although I have described my improvements in great detail, neverthelessI do not desire to be limited thereto except as clearly specified in theappended claims, since many changes and modifications may well be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully and clearly described my improvements, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an arrangement of the class described, a resistance comprising anumber of contacting units, a lever operating upon one end of saidresistance to move said units toward and permit them to move away fromeach other and a lever independently operating similarly upon the otherend of said resistance.

2. In an arrangement of the class described, a resistance adapted to bevaried in length and whose resistance value varies withits length, alever operatingupon said resistance from one end and a leverindependently operating upon said resistance from the other end.

3. In an arrangement of the class described, a resistance comprising anumber of contacting units, a lever operating upon one end of saidresistance to move said units toward and permit them to move away fromeach other, a lever independently operating, similarly upon the otherend of said resistance and an electromagnet for controlling theoperation of each lever.

a. In an arrangement of the class described, a resistance adapted to bevaried in length and whose resistance value varies with its length, alever operating upon said resistance from one end, a lever independentlyoperating upon said resistance from the other end and an eleetro-magnetfor controlling the operation of each lever.

In an arrangement of the class described, a suitable support, a carbonpile movable as a whole relatively to the sup- .port, a lever foroperating upon one end of said pile and a lever independently operatingupon the other end of said pile to vary the resistance of the pile. I

6. In an arrangement of the class described, a carbon pile, aleveroperating unon one end of said pile and extending toward the otherend of the pile, and a second lever operating on the second mentionedend of said pile and extending toward the first mentioned end of saidpile.

7. In an arrangement of the class described, a suitable support, acarbon, pile movable as a whole relatively to the support, a leveroperating upon one end of said pile and extending toward the other endof the pile, and a second lever operating on the second mentioned end ofsaid pile and extending toward the first mentioned end of said pile.

8. In an arrangement of the class described, a suitable support, acarbon pile movable as a whole relatively to the support, a leveroperating upon one end of said pile and extending toward the other endof the pile and a second lever independently operating on the secondmentioned end of said pile and extending toward the first mentioned endof said pile, and an electromagnet mechanically connected to eachzleverfor controlling the operation thereof.

9. In an arrangement of the class described, a carbon pile, a leveroperating upon one end of said pile and extending toward and beyond-theother end of the pile, and a second lever operating on the secondmentioned end of said pile and extending toward and beyond the firstmentioned end of said pile.

10. In an arrangement of the class described, a carbon pile, two leversoperating upon said pile mechanically independent of one another, andelectro-magnets for con trolling the operation of said levers.

11. In an arrangement of the class described, a carbon pile, two leversoperating upon said pile mechanically independent of one another, eachlever having a short arm mechanically connected to the pile and a longarm, said long arms extending substantially parallel to one another, andmeans for operating said-levers.

12. In an arrangement of the class described, the combination of aresistance medium comprising a plurality of contacting units, meansoperating on each end of said resistance medium, and electro-responsivemeans controlling said operating means.

13. The combination of a carbon pile, two lever members adapted to varythe resistance of said pile, both of said lever members having long armsextending beneath said pile, two separate cores connected to said levermembers respectively, two dash pots for said cores respectively, and twosolenoids for operating said cores respectively.

14. In an arrangement of the class described, a resistance medium, twoheads engaging the same and each movable toward the other to reduce thevalue of said resistance, and away from the other to increase saidvalue, each head being stopped in its first mentioned movement while theother is within the range of its operating movement, and means forindependently actuating said heads.

scribed, a suitable support, a resistance medium movable as a whole withrespect to said support, two heads engaging the same and each movabletoward the other to reduce the value of said resistance, and away fromthe other to increase said value, each head being stopped in its firstmentioned movement While the other is within the range of its operatinemovement, and means for independently actuating said heads.

17. In an arrangement of the class described, a carbon pile, twoindependently movable levers engaging opposite ends thereof and eachstopped in its forward movement while the other lever is within therange of its operating movement.

18. In an arrangement of the class described, a suitable supporttherefor, a carbon pile adapted to move as a Whole relatively to saidsupport, and two independently movable levers which tend to move saidpile in opposite directions, each being stopped in its movement in onedirection while the other lever is within its operating range ofmovement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. JEPSON.

itnesses:

J. L. VALKER, W. H. PATTENDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

